On June 1, 2025, the Parish of the Most Holy Redeemer of Damaia opened its doors to welcome the President of the Republic of Cape Verde, José Maria Neves, for his meeting with the Cape Verdean community of Greater Lisbon.
Mr. José Maria Neves’ visit, which took place on Sunday, June 1, was organized in conjunction with the celebrations of the fiftieth anniversary of Cape Verde’s independence. Following his visits to the United States and São Tomé and Príncipe, the President of the Republic of Cape Verde also made a stopover in Portugal.
After visiting several Cape Verdean immigrant communities in Portugal, he met with the Cape Verdean community of Greater Lisbon at the Damaia Parish Center. The objective of the Head of State’s visit was to promote and foster dialogue with the various segments of Cape Verdean immigration in Portugal and strengthen ties for the transformation of the islands.
According to Ms. Paula Semedo, a parishioner and promoter of the meeting, the visit of the President of the Republic of Cape Verde was undoubtedly a symbolic and important moment. However, she believes it is essential that this meeting not be considered merely a diplomatic gesture, but rather contribute to a more concrete understanding of the reality of those who left Cape Verde and came to Portugal in search of opportunities that their country has not always been able to guarantee.
The Parish of the Most Holy Redeemer of Damaia, belonging to the Patriarchate of Lisbon and located on the outskirts of Lisbon, is a parish with almost sixty years of existence. The growing migratory movement of recent decades has led the Parish of Damaia, until then predominantly Portuguese, to begin welcoming more and more migrants, mainly from Angola, Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, Venezuela, Ukraine, India, and, more recently, Brazil and Vietnam. Many of these Catholic immigrants have also found spiritual and religious support in the Parish of the Most Holy Redeemer of Damaia. Little by little, in addition to being passively present in the community, the immigrants, integrated into it, have begun to assume various responsibilities in liturgical ministries, in visiting the sick as Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, in catechesis, in prayer and mission groups, in choirs, in Parish Caritas, and in other missionary services of the parish.
The renovated space of the Parish Pastoral Center has also opened its doors to various activities promoted by immigrants, especially the African Chaplaincy, such as meetings, community lunches, parties, cultural presentations, retreats, conferences, and youth gatherings, among others. In this way, the Parish of the Most Holy Redeemer has accepted the invitation of the last General Chapter of the Congregation, which invited the entire Redemptorist Family to join in the dynamic of following in the footsteps of the Redeemer, paying special attention also to immigrants [1].
It should be added that, according to data from the Migration and Asylum Report (RMA), published by the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA), in 2023 Cape Verdean immigration ranked third among the main immigrations in Portugal, with a total of 48,885 people, equivalent to 4.7% of the total, after Angolan immigrants, with a total of 55,589 residents (5.3%), and immigrants of Brazilian nationality, with 368,449 residents (35.3%)[2].
The meeting with the President of the Republic, which was also attended by Jaime Pereira Garcia, President of the Parish Council of Águas Livres, was prepared by the Cape Verdean members of the Damaia parish community, represented by Ms. Paula Semedo, with the support and presence of Father Ilídio Troco Vieira, CSsR.
Fr. Krzysztof Dworak, CSsR.
[1] Cf. CONGREGATIONIS SANTISSIMI REDENTORIS. Acta Integra (II) Appendices. Phase II, Rome 11 Septembris – Octobris, 2022, p. 529.
[2] Cf. EXPRESSO DAS ILHAS, INFORPRESS. Cape Verdeans are the third largest foreign community in Portugal. Sep 19, 2024.
